"So what have you been up to all day without me?" (Danny, July 22nd)
"I love coming home, and having you to talk about the day with." (Danny, July 29th)

The writers are overwhelming me post-honeymoon. I was a bit annoyed I had to swallow more Drew/Jesse stuff, but hey, what matters is that they talked like a married couple at the end of a day, and moreover it was quickly brushed aside for more important stuff, the boutique shopping. :-) There was a time they couldn't even afford, emotionally, to behave like a normal married couple. Take the day she was packing to leave for Rick's. It was also the day she and Drew found the adoption letter and when Danny asked why she was upset, she naturally started talking about it, only to cut herself short when she realized what she was doing. How far we've come ... and I'm very pleased to have the writers acknowledge it in this manner.

Michelle: "I wanted to tell you that I may or may not have stopped by my favorite boutique to pick something up for you."
Danny: "What do you mean may or may not? What does that mean?"
Michelle: "Okay, I did... I did."
Danny: "And what exactly would you find for me at a boutique?"
Michelle: "Well... maybe it was more for me... no, it was definitely for you."
Danny: "Oooohhhhh, I see... I see."

I really could get used to this kind of cutesy stuff. Their life is so chaotic most of the time ... can't take these moments of normalcy for granted. And I love that Michelle these days is single-mindedly focused on how to spend their "hot nights".

Loved that the nightie was so short. The last time Michelle wore something like that was the pre-Cana morning, and I still remember the look Danny gave her. I was actually surprised she wore it to the bed. How she could be so oblivious to the effect she might have on a man, who had already admitted an attraction to her, half-dressed like that was/is a mystery .... Well, at least now she knows, and revels in it.

As for showing off her nightie ... I've been dreaming of something like this (for Manny) ever since I saw Joie Lenz in a similar pose (sorry, this one's a Michelle/Jesse memory) in the only Michelle/Jesse love scene she ever did, last December. This was the very first time Lenz's Michelle appeared as this sex-kittenish creature, and couldn't help lamenting that it had to be wasted on Jesse.

Something that jumped at me in this episode: their proximity to the bed. Didn't realize until now how most of their previous scenes in this bedroom were staged AWAY from the bed, on the other side of the room, as if the bed was off limits. (resisting temptation?) In this episode, not only did they talk next to the bed, they actually sat on it to talk!

I think the writers were feeling as nostalgic for the old days in this bedroom as we've been. Couldn't believe Manny actually talked about the bed. Only Danny and Michelle .... Thank you for revisiting it, writers, historical references are always welcome.

Love Puff Danny, definitely noticed his roaming hand inside her robe ....

Re: the third Manny scene: ecstatic it was the same background music as the one in a favorite Danny scene of mine, a scene that never fails to sadden me. Takes place at the Millennium loft, after the Danny/Drew deed, Drew just had a row with Jesse and says he's probably on his way to Michelle, and Danny bristles, automatically holds his hand up as if to shield himself from the pain.

The guy was Mr. Nonchalant until then, but just say "her" name and he starts bleeding, despite his I-don't-care's. Broke my heart. I'm a sucker for quietly devastating scenes like this and the following Meta/Michelle heart-to-heart. I loved the music in that scene, thought it enhanced it, and was glad they used it here to strike the same sad chords. It's what my mother would call an "eloquent" music. (She's a piano teacher.)

Liked how each Manny scene in this episode had a distinct "flavor" -- cute, sexy, sad, angry, upset, conciliatory, etc. Prefer Manny epsisodes that run a whole gamut of emotions, God knows the actors are up to the task. Aforementioned scene was the turning point, and transition was very smooth thanks to Joie Lenz's subtle work. Her ability to go from one extreme to another so effortlessly never ceases to amaze me. Reminds me of her work at the lighthouse upon the Danny/Drew revelation, when Michelle has to go from outrage to realization in the span of a few seconds, with the camera zoomed on her. Paul Anthony Stewar was very good too, lest you think he was a zombie. :-) Firm tone (wealth of meaning in "we're not going anywhere"), arms folded whenever he needs to "resist" Michelle ....

By the way, glad that their wedding bands are always in prominent view. I, for one, am not keen on Michelle wearing any big stone on her finger, wouldn't want it to overshadow the wedding band, which I think is more in line with the simple elegance of Michelle's jewelry and therefore, it should remain prominent. In Danny's case, I think his dark wardrobe and the fact that he doesn't even wear a wristwatch accentuate the only ornament on him.

Also, praise the soap gods that the related spoiler turned out to be misleading, yet again. Danny did not plan to hide it from Michelle initially, only upon Josh's request, and Michelle did not assume automatically he was leaving her (that's how the Soaps in Depth spoiler was worded), her first reaction actually was "we" as in "where are we going."

Love that they've reached a point in the relationship where they can actually make light of any possibility whatsoever of Danny leaving Michelle for another woman. That's how secure they are about their feelings, and their marriage. Any actual threat would come from the "business," which takes a completely different meaning in Danny's world, where business can become matters of life and death. You can die doing a business dealing, how absurd yet terrifying is that. And the bride has to face that prospect the second night they're home from their honeymoon. (Normalcy surely didn't last long.) This actually happens to be a different situation, but what about next time, when it's for real? I'm reminded of the park bench scenes ("She saves lives, he takes them"), as well as the Soap Opera Update interview with Lenz and Stewart a while ago.

Stewart: ... I hope they keep Danny involved with the family and the family doesn't go legitimate. That way, they'd have to address how Michelle would live as a mafia bride. Then maybe one day, Danny actually has to go through with a hit. How will that affect their relationship?

SOU: Michelle could be the doctor who takes care of the person he tried to kill.

Stewart: Exactly. And there's got to be a way to be in the family and remain an upstanding citizen, because Carmen doesn't have any intention of letting him go.

Communication, trust, compromise ... all foundations of a solid marriage, and it's a "joy" to see Manny struggling with them. Shouldn't come easily, that's what makes this relationship so real for viewers. They've already made a lot of progress. Remember the early days? "I wanna trust you"/"I wanna trust you too?" "Trust is a difficult one for me, especially coming from this family?" And the absolute clincher (for me), Danny on his knee implicitly begging Michelle to trust him and come clean about the FBI set-up?

Liked how their most frustrating moment was blocked, both sitting on the bed, their body language signaling this was a major marital tiff. By the way, for someone who used to drive him nuts, Michelle surely does put up a lot with him. He's worth it but still ... She's so good with him when his temper flares, has the patience of a saint.

Loved how Danny made up for leaving her upset the first time, saying goodbye properly outside the room ... swooned over the passionate kiss, it's the stuff romance is made of.

kristi k.